Machine Translations

LJ 386 - AI Translation Showcase

AI Translation for Legal Texts

When researching how an LLM such as DeepL could translate Japanese, my first idea was to use the Japanese Constitution, likely the most foundational legal text written natively in Japanese. Specifically, I translated the first section of Article 9, in which Japan "renounce[s] war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes." This translation comes from the website of the Japanese House of Representatives. The original is as follows: 

「第九条日本国民は、正義と秩序を基調とする国際平和を誠実に希求し、国権の発動たる戦争と、武力による威嚇又は武力の行使は、国際紛争を解決する手段としては、永久にこれを放棄する。」

This is how DeepL translated it:

"Article 9: The Japanese people sincerely desire international peace based on justice and order, and forever renounce war as a means of settling international disputes, as well as the threat or use of force as an exercise of state power."

This greatly differs from when you add the second portion of the Article, which reads:

"In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized." 

In the original Japanese:

「前項の目的を達するため、陸海空軍その他の戦力は、これを保持しない。国の交戦権は、これを認めない。」

When both are translated together, DeepL prefers to revert back to the translation promoted by the House of Representatives. It is important to note that in terms of meaning, "settling international disputes," and to "exercise state power" are vastly different. The former can be easily drawn to include any conflict between Japan and another Country. The latter, however, has a much narrower definition that could exclude situations involving a threat to national survival.

Both of these arguments have been made by either Chinese or Japanese officials in discussing a Taiwan contingency and the legitimacy of a Japanese armed response.

Another DeepL translation, this time from the "Armed Attack Situation Response" Law:

Original Japanese: 第四条国は、我が国の平和と独立を守り、国及び国民の安全を保つため、武力攻撃事態等及び存立危機事態において、我が国を防衛し、国土並びに国民の生命、身体及び財産を保護する固有の使命を有することから、前条の基本理念にのっとり、組織及び機能の全てを挙げて、武力攻撃事態等及び存立危機事態に対処するとともに、国全体として万全の措置が講じられるようにする責務を有する

JJapanese Law Translation:

    In order to protect the peace and independence of Japan and maintain the security of the nation and its people, the national government has the mission to defend Japan and protect the national land as well as the lives, bodies and properties of the people in armed attack situations, etc. and survival-threatening situations. Therefore, in accordance with the basic principles stated in the preceding Article, the national government has the responsibility to respond to armed attack situations, etc. and survival-threatening situations with all of its organizations and functions, and ensure that all possible measures are taken by the whole nation.

    

    DeepL: Article 4: Since the State has the inherent mission to defend Japan and protect its territory, as well as the lives, physical well-being, and property of its citizens, in the event of a situation involving an armed attack or a crisis threatening the nation’s survival, in order to safeguard Japan’s peace and independence and maintain the security of the State and its citizens, the State has the responsibility, in accordance with the fundamental principles set forth in the preceding Article, to mobilize all of its organizations and functions to respond to such situations and to ensure that comprehensive measures are taken by the nation as a whole.

Michael